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The indomitable Water/Steel type, Empoleon is a beloved starter from Gen 4. Now, with Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, plenty of players are teaming up with Piplup again, leveling it up in gyms and trainer battles until they get to its final evolution. The adorable yet imposing Emperor Pokemon makes a great teammate for adventures in Sinnoh.
Like all Pokemon partners, though, Empoleon can be made even stronger with the right held item. Various held items found across Sinnoh can make it more resilient in battle, boost the power of its attacks, and more. For those who want Empoleon by their side in their Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl adventure, here are the best options for held items.
7 Grip Claw
Experienced Pokemon players never underestimate how useful chip damage can be in a difficult battle. When using Empoleon, Whirlpool is an incredibly valuable move in this regard. It traps the target in a vortex, which deals a small amount of damage each turn until the move ends. The Grip Claw, however, ensures that Whirlpool (and other multi-turn moves like it) last for seven turns, their maximum duration.
To find this item, head to Wayward Cave through the secret entrance beneath Cycling Road. The Grip Claw can be found on the first basement level — note that players require the Strength HM to access the area. Wild Sandshrew and Sandslash also have a small chance to be holding this item when caught.
6 Wide Lens
Empoleon learns some powerful moves belonging to a wide variety of elemental types. Either by level up or via TM, it can learn Hydro Pump, Steel Wing, Giga Impact, and more. Many of these moves, to offset their high power, have somewhat reduced accuracy rates, making them a little less reliable in battle. The Wide Lens helps with this, boosting the holder's accuracy by 10%.
Players can obtain the Wide Lens in Veilstone City. In the southwest corner just south of the gym, players will come across a young couple with a Stunky. Talk to the Stunky first, then to the boy, who will give the player a Zoom Lens. Finally, talk to the girl to get the Wide Lens. There's also a small chance that this item will be held by a wild Yanma, Yanmega, or Sableye.
5 Muscle Band
Though the majority of Empoleon's moves are Physical rather than Special, its Attack is quite a bit lower than its Special Attack. The Muscle Band helps with this conundrum, as it increases the power of the holder's Physical moves by 10%.
The Muscle Band is available in the late game via the Battle Tower, where players can purchase it for 48 BP. Despite its late acquisition, it can still come in handy when playing through postgame content or in rematch battles against the Gym Leaders and Elite Four.
4 Chople Berry
Fighting-type moves are a bane for Steel-types. Though Fighting-type Pokemon themselves may not be the most common among Empoleon's weaknesses, a great many non-Fighting-types can learn Fighting-type moves, meaning that Empoleon may be hit with one when the player least expects it. These attacks can quickly eliminate the Emperor Pokemon from battle.
The Chople Berry can help alleviate this threat, as it halves the damage taken from a super-effective Fighting-type attack. Players have a chance to obtain this item from the Berry Woman in Pastoria City, who will give the player a random damage-reducing Berry once per day. Once obtained, plant the Chople Berry to cultivate a supply for repeated use in battle.
3 Choice Scarf
Though Empoleon isn't the slowest of the fully-evolved Sinnoh starters, its base Speed is still only 60, putting it below many others it will be facing in Gyms and the Elite Four. The Choice Scarf offers an advantage in this area, boosting speed by a whopping 50%. It comes with a catch, though: the holder can only use one move. This means that when holding the Choice Scarf, once Empoleon uses a move, it is locked in and can use only that specific move until it faints or is switched out.
Like the Muscle Band, the Choice Scarf is only obtainable in the post-game. After defeating the Elite Four and the Champion, the player gains access to the Battle Tower, where they can purchase this item for 48 BP.
2 Iron Plate
Though most of Empoleon's moves are Water-type, players should still take advantage of its secondary typing, and utilize the STAB (same-type attack bonus) that it gets with Steel-type moves. Of course, for players who want to take it even further, try handing Empoleon the Iron Plate to hold, as this item will boost the power of the holder's Steel-type moves by 20%.
Like all other elemental plates, players can find the Iron Plate by digging in the Grand Underground. For players who don't want to spend time waiting for it to appear in a digging spot, another Iron Plate can be found on Iron Island, in the second basement level in the left cave.
1 Mystic Water
As mentioned above, its secondary typing comes in useful, but the majority of Empoleon's attacks align with its primary typing: Water. Invaluable against Fire, Ground, and Rock types — all of which have Gyms or Elite Four battles dedicated to them in Sinnoh — attacks like Surf and Scald are this Pokemon's bread and butter. That's why the Mystic Water, which boosts the power of Water-type attacks by 20%, is such a great item for Empoleon. The buff may be simple, but it shouldn't be underestimated.
Players can find a Mystic Water in Pastoria City. Surf across the patch of water east of the Move Rememberer's house, hop off on a patch of land to the north, and the item will be waiting on shore. The item also has a 5% chance to be found on a wild Goldeen, Seaking, Lapras, or Castform.
